Construction machine

ABSTRACT

A construction machine includes a lower-part traveling body that performs a traveling operation, an upper-part turning body turnably mounted on the lower-part traveling body, an operator&#39;s cab mounted on the upper-part turning body, multiple image capturing devices mounted on the upper-part turning body, and a display unit mounted in the operator&#39;s cab to simultaneously display an image and operating information regarding an operating condition. The image includes at least one of multiple images captured with the image capturing devices. The display unit is configured to change at least one of the displayed image and a display position of the operating information, in response to an operation of a single changeover switch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application filed under 35 U.S.C.111(a) claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 and 365(c) of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP2015/062298, filed on Apr. 22, 2015and designating the U.S., which claims priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2014-091886, filed on Apr. 25, 2014. The entire contentsof the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to construction machines.

Description of Related Art

Construction machines with a display unit installed in an operator's cabhave been put to practical use. The display unit displays vehicleinformation such as the remaining amount of fuel, water temperature, oiltemperature, and a cumulative operating time and images of thesurroundings captured with a camera mounted on a vehicle body. Accordingto such construction machines, for example, an operator operates adisplay change switch to switch an image displayed on the display unitbetween vehicle information and an image of the surroundings.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a construction machineincludes a lower-part traveling body that performs a travelingoperation, an upper-part turning body turnably mounted on the lower-parttraveling body, an operator's cab mounted on the upper-part turningbody, multiple image capturing devices mounted on the upper-part turningbody, and a display unit mounted in the operator's cab to simultaneouslydisplay an image and operating information regarding an operatingcondition. The image includes at least one of multiple images capturedwith the image capturing devices. The display unit is configured tochange at least one of the displayed image and a display position of theoperating information, in response to an operation of a singlechangeover switch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shovel according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a configuration of a drive system of theshovel depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an upper-part turning body according to theembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the upper-part turning body according to theembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting a connection between a controllerand an image display unit of the shovel according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an operator's seat and the vicinity ofthe operator's seat according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a console of the operator's seat according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting a display screen displayed on the imagedisplay unit;

FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting a display screen displayed on the imagedisplay unit;

FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting a display screen displayed on the imagedisplay unit; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram depicting a display screen displayed on the imagedisplay unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

When a construction machine with a display unit as described above isprovided with multiple cameras, a camera change switch to switch animage of the surroundings displayed on the display unit to an image ofthe surroundings captured with a different camera is required inaddition to the display change switch.

According to this configuration, a complicated operation using both thedisplay change switch and the camera change switch is necessary for theoperator to display desired information or a desired image of thesurroundings on the display unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a constructionmachine configured to display a desired image on a display unit with asimple operation is provided.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same configuration is giventhe same character, and a repetitive description thereof may be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shovel 100 according to the embodiment. Anupper-part turning body 3 is turnably mounted on a lower-part travelingbody 1 through a turning mechanism 2. The lower-part traveling body 1performs a traveling operation of the shovel 100. A boom 4 is attachedto the upper-part turning body 3. An arm 5 is attached to an end of theboom 4, and a bucket 6 is attached to an end of the arm 5. The boom 4,the arm 5, and the bucket 6 form an attachment, and are hydraulicallydriven by a boom cylinder 7, an arm cylinder 8, and a bucket cylinder 9,respectively. A cabin (an operator's cab) 10 is provided on theupper-part turning body 3.

Furthermore, a power source such as an engine, which is an internalcombustion engine, is mounted on the upper-part turning body 3. Anoperator's seat is provided in the cabin 10. An operator operates theshovel 100 while being seated on the operator's seat. A counterweight 13is provided on the side opposite from the cabin 10 on the upper-partturning body 3.

With respect to the orientation of the lower-part traveling body 1, theside on which idlers are disposed is the front side, and the side onwhich traveling hydraulic motors are disposed is the rear side,irrespective of the orientation of the upper-part turning body 3.Accordingly, when the operator tilts a traveling lever toward the frontside of the cabin 10, the lower-part traveling body 1 travels in thedirection of arrow AR1 whichever direction the attachment is oriented.In FIG. 1, an idler 1Bx (for the left) and a traveling hydraulic motor1B (for the left) are visible, while an idler (for the right) and atraveling hydraulic motor 1A (for the right) are not visible.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a configuration of a drive system ofthe shovel 100 depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, a mechanical power system,a high-pressure hydraulic line, a pilot line, and an electrical controlsystem are indicated by a double line, a thick solid line, a dashedline, and a thin solid line, respectively.

The drive system of the shovel 100 is mounted on the upper-part turningbody 3, and includes an engine 11, a main pump 14, a pilot pump 15, acontrol valve 17, an operation apparatus 26, a controller 30, and anengine control unit (ECU) 74.

The engine 11, which is a drive source of the shovel 100, is, forexample, a diesel engine that operates to maintain a predeterminedrotational speed. The output shaft of the engine 11 is connected to theinput shafts of the main pump 14 and the pilot pump 15.

The main pump 14, which is a hydraulic pump that supplies hydraulic oilto the control valve 17 through a high-pressure hydraulic line, is, forexample, a swash-plate variable displacement hydraulic pump. The pilotpump 15, which is a hydraulic pump for supplying hydraulic oil tovarious hydraulic control apparatuses via a pilot line 25, is, forexample, a fixed displacement hydraulic pump.

The control valve 17 is a hydraulic control valve that controls thehydraulic system of the shovel 100. The control valve 17 selectivelysupplies hydraulic oil supplied from the main pump 14 to, for example,one or more of the boom cylinder 7, the arm cylinder 8, the bucketcylinder 9, a traveling hydraulic motor 1A (for the right), thetraveling hydraulic motor 1B (for the left), and a turning hydraulicmotor 2A. In the following description, the boom cylinder 7, the armcylinder 8, the bucket cylinder 9, the traveling hydraulic motor 1A (forthe right), the traveling hydraulic motor 1B (for the left), and theturning hydraulic motor 2A are collectively referred to as “hydraulicactuators”.

The operation apparatus 26, which is an apparatus that the operator usesto operate the hydraulic actuators, is disposed in the cabin 10.Furthermore, the operation apparatus 26 supplies hydraulic oil suppliedfrom the pilot pump 15 to the pilot ports of flow control valvescorresponding to the individual hydraulic actuators via the pilot line25. The pressure of hydraulic oil supplied to each pilot port is apressure commensurate with the direction of operation and the amount ofoperation of one of operation levers 26A, 263 and 26C corresponding tothe hydraulic actuators. The operation lever 260 is a traveling lever.

The controller 30, which is a control unit for controlling the shovel100, is composed of, for example, a computer including a CPU, a RAM, anda ROM. The CPU of the controller 30 executes processes corresponding toeach program by reading a program corresponding to operations andfunctions of the shovel 100 and executing the program while loading theprogram into the RAM.

The engine control unit (ECU) 74 is a device that controls the engine11. According to this embodiment, the ECU 74 collects various kinds ofdata indicating the condition of the engine 11, and transmits thecollected data to the controller 30. Referring to FIG. 2, the ECU 74 andthe controller 30 are separate configurations, but the ECU 74 and thecontroller 30 may also be configured as a single unit. For example, theECU 74 may be integrated into the controller 30.

According to the shovel 100 having the above-described configuration, animage display unit that displays various kinds of information isdisposed near the operator's seat to assist the operator in operatingthe shovel 100. Operating information regarding the operating conditionof the shovel 100 and an image of the surroundings of the shovel 100captured with image capturing devices are displayed on an image displaypart of the image display unit to enable the operator to check variouskinds of information and the surroundings. Furthermore, the operator mayoperate an operation part provided on the image display unit to inputinformation and instructions to the controller 30 of the shovel 100.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the upper-part turning body 3 according to theembodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the upper-part turning body 3according to the embodiment.

An image display unit 40 includes an image display part 41 and anoperation part 42, and is fixed to a frame (pillar) 10 a of the cabin 10including an operator's seat 60. According to this embodiment, the imagedisplay part 41 and the operation part 42 are formed as a single body.Alternatively, the image display part 41 and the operation part 42 maybe formed as separate bodies to be provided at different positions.

In general, the boom 4 is disposed on the right side of the operatorseated on the operator's seat 60, and the operator often operates theshovel 100 while viewing the arm 5 and the bucket 6 attached to the endof the boom 4. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the imagedisplay unit 40 is provided on the frame 10 a on the right side, onwhich side the boom 4 is provided, to enable the operator to check theimage display unit 40 while operating the arm 5 and the bucket 6.

Thus, the image display unit 40 is preferably provided at a positionthat easily comes into the field of vision of the operator who performswork. The configuration illustrated by way of example in thisembodiment, however, is not limiting, and the image display unit 40 maybe provided anywhere near the operator's seat 60.

Furthermore, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, image capturing devices 80that capture images of the surroundings of the shovel 100 are providedon a cover 3 a of the upper-part turning body 3 that covers the engine11, etc. According to this embodiment, a rear monitoring camera (acounterweight monitoring camera) 803 that captures an image in thedirection of the counterweight 13, a left-side monitoring camera 80L,and a right-side monitoring camera 80R are provided as the imagecapturing devices 80. The number of the image capturing devices 80installed may be at least one, and the number and the installationpositions are not limited to the configuration illustrated by way ofexample in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting a connection of the controller 30and the image display unit 40 of the shovel 100 according to thisembodiment.

The image display unit 40 is connected to the controller 30 via acommunication network such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) or a LocalInterconnect

Network (LIN). The image display unit 40 is connected to the imagecapturing devices 80 via, for example, dedicated lines. The imagedisplay unit 40 may alternatively be connected to the controller 30 viaa dedicated line.

The image display unit 40 includes a conversion part 40 a that generatesan image to be displayed on the image display part 41. Image data outputfrom the image capturing devices 80 (the rear monitoring camera 80B, theleft-side monitoring camera 80L, and the right-side monitoring camera80R) are input to the conversion part 40 a. Furthermore, for example,data indicating the temperature of engine coolant water, data indicatingthe temperature of hydraulic oil, data indicating the remaining amountof fuel, and fuel efficiency information are input to the conversionpart 40 a from the controller 30.

The conversion part 40 a generates an image signal to be displayed onthe image display part 41 of the image display unit 40 based on imagedata from the image capturing devices 80 and various kinds of data fromthe controller 30. The image display part 41 displays an image based onthe image signal generated by the conversion part 40 a.

The conversion part 40 a may be implemented not as a function of theimage display unit 40 but as a function of the controller 30. In thiscase, the image capturing devices 80 are connected to the controller 30.

Furthermore, the image display unit 40 includes the operation part 42that includes various hardware switches. According to this embodiment, amenu switch 42 a, a camera switch 42 b, an operating time display changeswitch 42 c, an operation switch 42 d, a traveling mode switch 42 e, anengine aftertreatment switch 42 f, and an attachment change switch 42 gare provided in the operation part 42.

The menu switch 42 a is a switch to cause a menu screen to be displayedon the image display part 41. The menu screen is a screen to displayvarious kinds of information on the shovel 100 and receive theoperator's operations such as changing the settings of variousparameters or the like. The camera switch 42 b is a switch to causevarious kinds of data from the controller 30 and a captured image fromthe image capturing devices 80 to be displayed on the image display part41, and is a switch to change an image configuration to be displayed onthe image display part 41.

When the camera switch 42 b is depressed during display of the menuscreen on the image display part 41, an image displayed on the imagedisplay part 41 switches to an image including operating informationregarding the operating condition and a captured image captured with theimage capturing devices 80. Furthermore, when the camera switch 42 b isdepressed during display of the operating information and an imagecaptured with the image capturing devices 80 on the image display part41, at least one of the display position of the operating informationand the displayed captured image switches.

The operating time display change switch 42 c is a switch to changeoperating time information displayed on the image display part 41. Oneor both of the lifelong operating time and the section operating time ofthe shovel 100 are displayed on the image display part 41 as operatinginformation. Furthermore, fuel efficiency information corresponding tothe operating time information is displayed on the image display part 41as operating information. For example, when the lifelong operating timeis displayed, lifelong average fuel efficiency is displayed as fuelefficiency information together with the lifelong operating time. Whenthe section operating time is displayed, section average fuel efficiencyis displayed as fuel efficiency information together with the sectionoperating time.

When the operating time display change switch 42 c is depressed, theoperating time information displayed on the image display part 41 ischanged together with fuel efficiency information. For example, when theoperating time display change switch 42 c is depressed during display ofthe lifelong operating time and the lifelong average fuel efficiency onthe image display part 41, the displayed information switches to thesection operating time and the section average fuel efficiency. Forexample, when the operating time display change switch 42 c is depressedduring display of the section operating time and the section averagefuel efficiency on the image display part 41, the displayed informationswitches to the lifelong operating time and the lifelong average fuelefficiency.

Alternatively, for example, when the operating time display changeswitch 42 c is depressed during display of one of the lifelong operatingtime and the section operating time on the image display part 41,switching may be performed to display all of the lifelong operatingtime, the lifelong average fuel efficiency, the section operating time,and the section average fuel efficiency on the image display part 41.

Here, the lifelong operating time is a cumulative operating time in theentire period after manufacture of the shovel 100, and the lifelongaverage fuel efficiency is average fuel efficiency in the entire periodafter the manufacture. Furthermore, the section operating time is, forexample, a cumulative operating time in a period after the counting ofan operating time or the like is restarted by the operator, and thesection average fuel efficiency is average fuel efficiency in the periodafter the restart.

The operation switch 42 d is composed of four switches that arevertically and laterally separated. The top switch is a wiper switch,the right switch is a light switch, the left switch is a washer switch,and the bottom switch is an engine control switch. The wiper switch is aswitch to turn on and off the wipers.

The light switch is a switch to turn on and off the lights attached tothe exterior of the cabin 10. The washer switch is a switch to jet outwindow washer fluid. The engine control switch is a switch to switch therotational speed of the engine 11 of the shovel 100 to AUTO, IDLE,SHUTDOWN, etc.

The traveling mode switch 42 e is a switch to set the traveling mode toa low-speed mode or a high-speed mode. The engine aftertreatment switch42 f is a switch to perform aftertreatment of exhaust gas, etc. Theattachment change switch 42 g is a switch to change the settings of thecontroller 30 in accordance with various attachments such as a bucket, arock drill, and a grapple.

The image display unit 40 operates with a supply of electric powerreceived from a rechargeable battery 70. The rechargeable battery 70 ischarged with electric power generated by an alternator ha (electricgenerator) of the engine 11. The electric power of the rechargeablebattery 70 is also supplied to an electrical component 72 of the shovel100 other than the controller 30 and the image display unit 40.Furthermore, a starter 11 b of the engine 11 is driven with electricpower from the rechargeable battery 70 to start the engine 11.

Furthermore, according to the shovel 100 of this embodiment, an enginerotational speed adjustment dial 75 is provided in the cabin 10. Theengine rotational speed adjustment dial 75 is a dial for adjusting therotational speed of the engine 11, and according to this embodiment, iscapable of switching the engine rotational speed among the four levelsof SP mode, H mode, A mode, and idling mode. FIG. 5 depicts a statewhere the H mode is selected by the engine rotational speed adjustmentdial 75.

The SP mode is a rotational speed mode selected when it is desired togive priority to workload, and uses the highest engine rotational speed.The H mode is a rotational speed mode selected when it is desired tosatisfy both workload and fuel efficiency, and uses the second highestengine rotational speed. The A mode is a rotational speed mode selectedwhen it is desired to operate the shovel 100 with low noise while givingpriority to fuel efficiency, and uses the third highest enginerotational speed. The idling mode is a rotational speed mode selectedwhen it is desired to idle the engine 11, and uses the lowest enginerotational speed. The engine 11 is controlled to a constant rotationalspeed at the engine rotational speed of the rotational speed mode set bythe engine rotational speed adjustment dial 75.

Various kinds of data are transmitted from various parts to thecontroller 30. The controller 30 stores various kinds of data in atemporary storage part 30 a, and transmits the stored various kinds ofdata and the results of operations based on the various kinds of data tothe image display unit 40 as desired.

For example, the following various kinds of data are transmitted fromvarious parts to the controller 30 to be stored in the temporary storagepart 30 a.

For example, data indicating a swash plate angle are transmitted from aregulator 14 a of the main pump 14, which is a variable displacementhydraulic pump, to the controller 30. Furthermore, data indicating thedischarge pressure of the main pump 14 are transmitted from a dischargepressure sensor 14 b to the controller 30. Furthermore, an oiltemperature sensor 14 c is provided in a conduit between a tank in whichhydraulic fluid that the main pump 14 takes in is stored and the mainpump 14. Data indicating the temperature of hydraulic fluid flowingthrough the conduit are fed from the oil temperature sensor 14 c to thecontroller 30.

The pilot pressures transmitted to the control valve 17 when theoperation levers 26A through 260, etc., are operated are detected withhydraulic sensors 15 a and 15 b, and data indicating the detected pilotpressures are fed to the controller 30. The relationship between thetilt direction of the traveling lever 260 and the rotation direction ofthe traveling hydraulic motors 1A and 1B is determined separately fromthe orientation of the upper-part turning body 3 relative to thelower-part traveling body 1.

Furthermore, data indicating the setting of the engine rotational speedare constantly transmitted from the engine rotational speed adjustmentdial 75 to the controller 30.

The controller 30 is further fed with data indicating the state of theremaining amount of fuel from a remaining fuel amount sensor 55 a in afuel tank 55. Specifically, the remaining fuel amount sensor 55 a iscomposed of a float that follows a fluid level and a variable resistor(potentiometer) that converts the amount of vertical variation of thefloat into a resistance value. The method of detecting the state of theremaining amount of fuel may be suitably selected in accordance with theconfiguration of the shovel 100, and may be configured differently fromthe example illustrated in this embodiment.

Furthermore, a command value for the amount of fuel injectiontransmitted to the engine 11 is transmitted from the ECU 74 to thecontroller 30 together with the operating condition of the engine 11.The operating condition of the engine 11 and the command value for theamount of fuel injection are stored in the temporary storage part 30 aof the controller 30 together with a date and time.

The controller 30 calculates fuel efficiency based on the command valuefor the amount of fuel injection, the date and time, etc., stored in thetemporary storage part 30 a. The controller 30 calculates the lifelongaverage fuel efficiency based on an operating time in the entire periodafter manufacture of the shovel 100 and the cumulative value of theamount of fuel injection in the entire period. Furthermore, thecontroller 30 calculates the section average fuel efficiency based on anoperating time in a period after the counting of an operating time isrestarted by the operator and the cumulative value of the amount of fuelinjection in this period. Furthermore, the controller 30 calculatesinstantaneous fuel efficiency based on, for example, the amount of fuelinjection in the last second. The operator may reset and restart thecounting of an operating time from the menu screen displayed on theimage display part 41, for example.

Furthermore, the controller 30 may calculate fuel efficiency in anyperiod set by the operator, for example. The controller 30 may calculatefuel efficiency by a method different from the above-described method.For example, the controller 30 may determine the amount of fuelconsumption from data on the remaining amount of fuel periodicallytransmitted from the remaining fuel amount sensor 55 a to calculate fuelefficiency from an operating time and the amount of fuel consumption.

The data indicating the temperature of hydraulic fluid, the dataindicating the setting of the engine rotational speed, and the dataindicating the state of the remaining amount of fuel obtained by thecontroller 30, the various kinds of fuel efficiency informationcalculated by the controller 30, etc., are transmitted to and displayedon the image display unit 40 as operating information.

Furthermore, a gate lock apparatus 27 is provided in the shovel 100. Thegate lock apparatus 27 is provided to prevent an improper operation ofthe work elements of the shovel 100, and switches the work elements ofthe shovel 100 to the enabled state or the disabled state.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an operator's seat of the shovel 100 andthe vicinity of the operator's seat according to the embodiment.

In the cabin 10, consoles 10 c are provided one on each side of theoperator's seat 60. Operation levers 26 a are provided on the consoles10 c. The gate lock apparatus 27 is provided in the console 10 cprovided on the left side of the operator's seat 60, on which side theoperator gets in and out of the cabin 10.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the console 10 c on the left side of theoperator's seat 60 according to the embodiment.

The gate lock apparatus 27 is disposed in the console 10 c on the leftside of the operator's seat 60, and includes a gate lock lever 27 a, agate 27 b, and a limit switch 27 c.

The gate lock apparatus 27 operates to open and close the gate 27 bdisposed in an area for climbing into and getting out of the operator'sseat 60. The gate lock lever 27 a and the gate 27 b are connected with awire. When the gate lock lever 27 a is pulled up, the gate 27 b also ispulled up (as indicated by a solid line). When the gate lock lever 27 ais lowered, the gate 27 b also is lowered (as indicated by a dashedline). The gate 27 b is raised to prevent the operator from getting outof the operator's seat 60. The gate 27 b is lowered to allow theoperator to get out of the operator's seat 60.

The limit switch 27 c is a sensor to detect an operation of the gatelock lever 27 a. The gate lock lever 27 a is pulled up to turn on thelimit switch 27 c. The gate lock lever 27 a is lowered to turn off thelimit switch 27 c.

The limit switch 27 c turns on to turn on a relay 28 a of a shutoffvalve 28 depicted in FIG. 5. The limit switch 27 c turns off to turn offthe relay 28 a. Thus, the limit switch 27 c turns on and off to performthe switching of the shutoff valve 28 that interrupts the transmissionof hydraulic fluid from the pilot pump 15 to the operation apparatus 26.

When the operator is seated on the operator's seat 60 and the gate locklever 27 a is pulled up (the gate 27 b is raised to prevent the operatorfrom getting off), the limit switch 27 c turns on to turn on the relay28 a, so that the shutoff valve 28 is opened to enable the work elementsof the shovel 100. When the operator is seated on the operator's seat 60but the gate lock lever 27 a is lowered (the gate 27 b is lowered toallow the operator to get on and off), the limit switch 27 c turns offto turn off the relay 28 a, so that the shutoff valve 28 is closed todisable the work elements of the shovel 100.

Thus, according to the shovel 100, the work elements are not enabledunless the operator is seated on the operator's seat 60 and pulls up thegate lock lever 27 a. Furthermore, when the gate lock lever 27 a islowered to allow the operator to get into and out of the operator's seat60, the work elements are disabled. Thus, the gate lock apparatus 27prevents an improper operation of the shovel 100.

A signal representing the on or off of the limit switch 27 c of the gatelock apparatus 27 is also input to the controller 30. The controller 30serves as a detector to detect the enabled state or the disabled stateof the work elements based on the signal from the limit switch 27 c.

Next, a configuration of a display screen displayed on the image displaypart 41 of the image display unit 40 is described. FIG. 8 is a diagramdepicting a display screen 41V1 displayed on the image display part 41by way of example. According to the display screen 41VI depicted in FIG.8, the camera switch 42 b is depressed to display various kinds ofoperating information and a captured image captured with the imagecapturing devices 80.

As depicted in FIG. 8, the display screen 41V1 includes a date and timedisplay area 41 a, a traveling mode display area 41 b, an attachmentdisplay area 41 c, a fuel efficiency display area 41 d, an enginecontrol state display area 41 e, an engine operating time display area41 f, a coolant water temperature display area 41 g, a remaining fuelamount display area 41 h, a rotational speed mode display area 41 i, aremaining urea water amount display area 41 j, and a hydraulic oiltemperature display area 41 k, which display respective items ofoperating information, and a camera image display area 41 m thatdisplays a captured image captured with the image capturing devices 80.

The date and time display area 41 a is an area to display a current dateand time. According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, digital displayis employed to show a date (Apr. 1, 2014) and a time (10:05).

The traveling mode display area 41 b is an area to display a currenttraveling mode. The traveling mode represents the setting of travelinghydraulic motors using a variable displacement pump. Specifically, thetraveling mode includes a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode. A“turtle”-shaped mark is displayed in the low-speed mode, and a“rabbit”-shaped mark is displayed in the high-speed mode. According tothe example depicted in FIG. 8, the “turtle”-shaped mark is displayed tomake it possible for the operator to recognize that the low-speed modeis set.

The attachment display area 41 c is an area to display an image thatrepresents a currently attached attachment. Various attachments such asa bucket, a rock drill, a grapple, and a lifting magnet are attached tothe shovel 100. The attachment display area 41 c displays, for example,marks shaped like these attachments and numbers corresponding to theattachments. According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, a rockdrill-shaped mark is displayed and “1” is displayed as a numberrepresenting the magnitude of the output of the rock drill.

The fuel efficiency display area 41 d is an area to display fuelefficiency information calculated by the controller 30. The fuelefficiency display area 41 d includes an average fuel efficiency displayarea 41 d 1 to display the lifelong average fuel efficiency or thesection average fuel efficiency and an instantaneous fuel efficiencydisplay area 41 d 2 to display the instantaneous fuel efficiency.

According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, the section average fuelefficiency is numerically displayed together with a unit of [L/hr(litter per hour)] in the average fuel efficiency display area 41 d 1.Furthermore, a bar graph composed of nine segments that are individuallycontrolled to light up or darken in accordance with the magnitude of theinstantaneous fuel efficiency is displayed in the instantaneous fuelefficiency display area 41 d 2. The segments are controlled to increasethe number of lighted segments as the instantaneous fuel efficiencyincreases and to decrease the number of lighted segments as theinstantaneous fuel efficiency decreases, so that the operator canvisually recognize the magnitude of the instantaneous fuel efficiency.

The engine operating time display area 41 f is an area to display thecumulative operating time of the engine 11. According to the exampledepicted in FIG. 8, a cumulative operating time since the restart ofcounting by the operator is displayed together with a unit of “hr(hour).” At least one of the lifelong operating time in the entireperiod after manufacture of the shovel 100 and the section operatingtime since the restart of counting by the operator is displayed in theengine operating time display area 41 f.

When the operator depresses the operating time display change switch 42c, the fuel efficiency information displayed in the average fuelefficiency display area 41 d 1 is changed together with the operatingtime info/nation displayed in the engine operating time display area 41f.

For example, when the section operating time is displayed in the engineoperating time display area 41 f, the section average fuel efficiency isdisplayed in the average fuel efficiency display area 41 d 1. When thelifelong operating time is displayed in the engine operating timedisplay area 41 f, the lifelong average fuel efficiency is displayed inthe average fuel efficiency display area 41 d 1. When both the sectionoperating time and the lifelong operating time are displayed in theengine operating time display area 41 f, both the section average fuelefficiency and the lifelong average fuel efficiency are displayed in theaverage fuel efficiency display area 41 d 1.

Every time the operating time display change switch 42 c is depressed,the fuel efficiency information displayed in the average fuel efficiencydisplay area 41 d 1 switches to “the section average fuel efficiency,”“the lifelong average fuel efficiency,” or “the section average fuelefficiency and the lifelong average fuel efficiency.” Accordingly, bydepressing the operating time display change switch 42 c, the operatorcan understand the section average fuel efficiency and the lifelongaverage fuel efficiency to determine whether the state of fuelefficiency in current work is good or not to proceed with work in such amanner as to further improve the fuel efficiency.

The lifelong average fuel efficiency or the section average fuelefficiency displayed in the average fuel efficiency display area 41 d 1may be displayed in a unit different from the example depicted in FIG.8, and may be displayed in a bar graph. The instantaneous fuelefficiency may be numerically displayed in the instantaneous fuelefficiency display area 41 d 2.

The engine control state display area 41 e is an area to display thestate of control of the engine 11. According to the example depicted inFIG. 8, the operator can recognize that “automatic deceleration andautomatic stop mode” is selected as the state of control of the engine11. The “automatic deceleration and automatic stop mode” means the stateof control to automatically reduce the engine rotational speed andfurther to automatically stop the engine 11 in accordance with theduration of the low-load state of the engine 11. Other states of controlof the engine 11 include “automatic deceleration mode,” “automatic stopmode,” and “manual deceleration mode.”

The coolant water temperature display area 41 g is an area to display acurrent temperature condition of the engine coolant water. According tothe example depicted in FIG. 8, a bar graph that represents thetemperature condition of the engine coolant water is displayed. Thetemperature of the engine coolant water is displayed based on the outputdata of a water temperature sensor 11 c attached to the engine 11.Specifically, the coolant water temperature display area 41 g includesan abnormal range indicator 41 g 1, a caution range indicator 41 g 2, anormal range indicator 41 g 3, a segment indicator 41 g 4, and an iconindicator 41 g 5.

The abnormal range indicator 41 g 1, the caution range indicator 41 g 2,and the normal range indicator 41 g 3 are indicators for notifying theoperator that the temperature of the engine coolant water is abnormallyhigh, requires attention, and is normal, respectively. The segmentindicator 41 g 4 is an indicator for notifying the operator of the levelof the temperature of the engine coolant water. The icon indicator 41 g5 is an icon, such as a graphic symbol, indicating that the abnormalrange indicator 41 g 1, the caution range indicator 41 g 2, the normalrange indicator 41 g 3, and the segment indicator 41 g 4 are indicatorspertaining to the temperature of the engine coolant water. The iconindicator 41 g 5 may alternatively be characters indicating that theindicators are related to the temperature of the engine coolant water.

According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, the segment indicator 41 g4 is composed of eight segments that are individually controlled tolight up or darken, and the number of lighted segments increases as thecoolant temperature increases. According to the example depicted in FIG.8, four segments are lighted. While the temperatures represented by theindividual segments are equal in width in the example depicted in FIG.8, the width of temperatures may differ from segment to segment.

Furthermore, according to the example depicted in FIG. 8, the abnormalrange indicator 41 g 1, the caution range indicator 41 g 2, and thenormal range indicator 41 g 3 are arc-shaped graphics successivelyarranged along the segment indicator 41 g 4 to be constantly lighted in,for example, red, yellow, and green, respectively.

According to the segment indicator 41 g 4, the first (lowest) throughsixth segments belong to the normal range, the seventh segment belongsto the caution range, and the eighth (highest) segment belongs to theabnormal range.

Instead of displaying the abnormal range indicator 41 g 1, the cautionrange indicator 41 g 2, and the normal range indicator 41 g 3 inarc-shaped graphics, the coolant water temperature display area 41 g maydisplay characters, symbols, etc., indicating an abnormal level, acaution level, and a normal level at their respective boundaries.

The above-described configuration including an abnormal range indicator,a caution range indicator, a normal range indicator, a segmentindicator, and an icon indicator is also adopted for the remaining fuelamount display area 41 h, the remaining urea water amount display area41 j, and the hydraulic oil temperature display area 41 k. Instead ofdisplaying arc-shaped graphics representing an abnormal range, a cautionrange, and a normal range, the remaining fuel amount display area 41 hand the remaining urea water amount display area 41 j may display aletter “F” or a black circle (a circle filled with black), indicating“Full (full state)”, a letter “E” or a white circle (an unfilledcircle), indicating “Empty (empty state)”, etc., at their respectiveboundaries.

The remaining fuel amount display area 41 h is an area to display thestate of the remaining amount of fuel stored in the fuel tank 55.According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, a bar graph representingthe current state of the remaining amount of fuel is displayed. Theremaining amount of fuel is displayed based on the output data of theremaining fuel amount sensor 55 a.

The rotational speed mode display area 41 i is an area to display, as animage, a current rotational speed mode set with the engine rotationalspeed adjustment dial 75. The rotational speed mode includes, forexample, the above-described four modes, namely, SP mode, H mode, Amode, and idling mode. According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, asymbol “SP” indicating SP mode is displayed.

The remaining urea water amount display area 41 j is an area to display,as an image, the state of the remaining amount of urea water stored in aurea water tank. According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, a bargraph representing the current state of the remaining amount of ureawater is displayed. The remaining amount of urea water is displayedbased on the output data of a remaining urea water amount sensorprovided in the urea water tank.

The hydraulic oil temperature display area 41 k is an area to displaythe state of the temperature of hydraulic oil in a hydraulic oil tank.According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, a bar graph indicating thestate of the temperature of hydraulic oil is displayed. The temperatureof hydraulic oil is displayed based on the output data of the oiltemperature sensor 14 c.

Furthermore, according to the example depicted in FIG. 8, the coolantwater temperature display area 41 g, the remaining fuel amount displayarea 41 h, the remaining urea water amount display area 41 j, and thehydraulic oil temperature display area 41 k have their respectivesegment indicators displayed to extend or shrink along thecircumferential direction of the same single predetermined circle.Specifically, the coolant water temperature display area 41 g, theremaining fuel amount display area 41 h, the remaining urea water amountdisplay area 41 j, and the hydraulic oil temperature display area 41 kare positioned in the left-side portion, the upper portion, the lowerportion, and the right-side portion, respectively, of the predeterminedcircle. In the coolant water temperature display area 41 g and thehydraulic oil temperature display area 41 k, an abnormal rangeindicator, a caution range indicator, and a normal range indicator arearranged in this order from the top. In the remaining fuel amountdisplay area 41 h and the remaining urea water amount display area 41 j,an abnormal range indicator, a caution range indicator, and a normalrange indicator are arranged in this order from the left. Furthermore,in the remaining fuel amount display area 41 h and the remaining ureawater amount display area 41 j, the segment indicator is displayed toincrease the number of lighted segments as the remaining amountincreases, where the first (rightmost) through sixth segments belong toa normal range, the seventh segment belongs to a caution range, and theeighth (leftmost) segment belongs to an abnormal range.

The coolant water temperature display area 41 g, the remaining fuelamount display area 41 h, the remaining urea water amount display area41 j, and the hydraulic oil temperature display area 41 k may adoptneedle display in lieu of bar graph display.

While the coolant water temperature display area 41 g, the remainingfuel amount display area 41 h, the remaining urea water amount displayarea 41 j, the hydraulic oil temperature display area 41 k, etc., whichshow operating information, are basically displayed in the left-sideregion of the display screen 41V1 according to the example depicted inFIG. 8, the operating information may alternatively be displayed in theupper region, the right-side region, etc., of the display screen 41V1.Preferably, however, the operating information is displayed on the sidecloser to the operator's seat 60 (the left-side region according to thisembodiment) or in the upper region of the display screen 41V1 to be morevisible to the operator.

The camera image display area 41 m is an area to display a capturedimage captured with the image capturing devices 80. According to theexample depicted in FIG. 8, a captured image captured with the rearmonitoring camera 80B is displayed in the camera image display area 41m. A captured image captured with the left-side monitoring camera 80L orthe right-side monitoring camera 80R may also be displayed in the cameraimage display area 41 m. Captured images captured with two or more ofthe rear monitoring camera 80B, the left-side monitoring camera 80L, andthe right-side monitoring camera 80R may also be displayed side by sidein the camera image display area 41 m. Furthermore, a bird's-eye viewimage into which captured images captured with the rear monitoringcamera 80B, the left-side monitoring camera 80L, and the right-sidemonitoring camera 80R, respectively, are combined may be displayed inthe camera image display area 41 m.

Each camera is so installed as to include part of the cover 3 a of theupper-part turning body 3 in the data of a captured image. Inclusion ofpart of the cover 3 a in a displayed image makes it easy for theoperator to feel the distance between an object displayed in the cameraimage display area 41 m and the shovel 100.

An image capturing device icon 41 n that represents the orientation ofthe image capturing device 80 that has captured a captured image that isbeing displayed is displayed in the camera image display area 41 m. Theimage capturing device icon 41 n is composed of a shovel icon 41 narepresenting a plan view shape of the shovel 100 and a strip-shapeddirection indicator icon 41 nb representing the orientation of the imagecapturing device 80 that has captured a captured image that is beingdisplayed.

According to the example depicted in FIG. 8, the direction indicatoricon 41 nb is displayed below the shovel icon 41 na (on the oppositeside from the attachment) to indicate that a captured rearview image ofthe shovel 100, captured with the rear monitoring camera 80B, isdisplayed in the camera image display area 41 m. For example, when acaptured image captured with the right-side monitoring camera 80R isdisplayed in the camera image display area 41 m, the direction indicatoricon 41 nb is displayed to the right of the shovel icon 41 na. When acaptured image captured with the left-side monitoring camera 80L isdisplayed in the camera image display area 41 m, the direction indicatoricon 41 nb is displayed to the left of the shovel icon 41 na.

Here, when the camera switch 42 b of the operation part 42 is depressedduring display of operating information and a captured image on theimage display part 41, at least one of the display position of theoperating information on the image display part 41 and the capturedimage displayed in the camera image display area 41 m is changed. FIGS.9 through 11 are diagrams depicting other configurations of a displayscreen displayed on the image display part 41. Every time the cameraswitch 42 b is depressed, the display screen switches to, for example,one of the configurations illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 8through 11.

According to a display screen 41V2 illustrated by way of example in FIG.9, a bird's-eye view image into which captured images captured with therear monitoring camera 80B, the left-side monitoring camera 80L, and theright-side monitoring camera 80R, respectively, are combined isdisplayed in the camera image display area 41 m.

The bird's-eye view image displayed in the camera image display area 41m is generated by the conversion part 40 a of the image display unit 40to be displayed along the perimeter of an icon representing the shovel100. The operator can check the entire surroundings of the shovel 100including its rear side, left side, and right side, which are blindspots, using the bird's-eye view image displayed in the camera imagedisplay area 41 m while visually checking the front side.

According to a display screen 41V3 illustrated by way of example in FIG.10, the camera image display area 41 m is enlarged to full screen, and acaptured image captured with the rear monitoring camera 80B is displayedin the camera image display area 41 m. Various kinds of operatinginformation are displayed over the captured image in the upper region ofthe display screen 41V3. While fuel efficiency information is omittedfrom the display screen 41V3 illustrated by way of example in FIG. 10,the fuel efficiency display area 41 d may be provided in the upperregion.

According to the example depicted in FIG. 10, the engine operating timedisplay area 41 f, the coolant water temperature display area 41 g, theremaining fuel amount display area 41 h, and the remaining urea wateramount display area 41 j are provided in an upper part of the displayscreen 41V3. The operating information is displayed over an upper regionof a captured image to make it difficult to view the upper region. Theshovel 100, however, travels at low speed, and accordingly, it issufficient if the visibility of the neighborhood of the shovel 100 isensured.

According to a display screen 41V4 illustrated by way of example in FIG.11, the camera image display area 41 m is laterally divided into two todisplay an image captured with the rear monitoring camera 803 in aleft-side camera image display area 41 m 1 and display an image capturedwith the right-side monitoring camera 80R in a right-side camera imagedisplay area 41 m 2. Like in FIG. 10, various kinds of operatinginformation are displayed over the captured images in an upper region ofthe display screen 41V4.

In the left-side camera image display area 41 m 1, an image capturingdevice icon 41 n 1 is displayed, and a direction indicator icon 41 n 1 bis displayed below a shovel icon 41 n 1 a to indicate that a capturedimage captured with the rear monitoring camera 80B is displayed. In theright-side camera image display area 41 m 2, an image capturing deviceicon 41 n 2 is displayed, and a direction indicator icon 41 n 2 b isdisplayed to the right of a shovel icon 41 n 2 a to indicate that acaptured image captured with the right-side monitoring camera 80R isdisplayed.

Alternatively, a captured image captured with the left-side monitoringcamera 80L may be displayed in the left-side camera image display area41 m 1, and a captured image captured with the rear monitoring camera80B may be displayed in the right-side camera image display area 41 m 2.As yet another alternative, the camera image display area 41 m may bedivided into three to display an image captured with the left-sidemonitoring camera 80L in the left-side region, an image captured withthe rear monitoring camera BOB in the center region, and an imagecaptured with the right-side monitoring camera 80R in the right-sideregion.

According to the shovel 100 of this embodiment, every time the cameraswitch 42 b of the operation part 42 is depressed, the image displayedon the image display part 41 of the image display unit 40 switches toone of the display screens 41V1 through 41V4 illustrated by way ofexample in FIGS. 8 through 11. For example, when the camera switch 42 bis depressed during display of the display screen 41V1 (FIG. 8) on theimage display part 41, the display switches to the display screen 41V2(FIG. 9). Furthermore, every time the camera switch 42 b is depressed,the display of the image display part 41 switches to the display screen41V3 (FIG. 10), the display screen 41V4 (FIG. 11), and the displayscreen 41V1 (FIG. 8) in this order.

The display screens 41V1 through 41V4 illustrated by way of example inFIGS. 8 through 11 are different from one another in the configurationof at least one of the display position of operating information and adisplayed captured image. Accordingly, the operator can cause a desiredimage to be displayed on the image display part 41 with a simpleoperation of depressing a single switch, namely, the camera switch 42 b,one or a few times. Furthermore, a captured image obtained in anexternal image capturing device separate from the shovel 100 may also bedisplayed on the image display part 41 as a display screen the same asthe display screens 41V1 through 41V4 by depressing the camera switch 42b. In this case, communications from the external image capturing deviceto the controller 30 of the shovel 100 are performed wirelessly.

The size and placement of each display area on the display screens 41V1through 41V4 may be changed as desired. Furthermore, one or more of thedisplay areas 41 a through 41 m may be omitted from the display screen,and the display screen may also be configured to include display areasother than those described above. For example, the display screen mayinclude an exhaust gas filter condition display area to display thecondition of clogging of an exhaust gas filter (such as a DieselParticulate Filter [DPF]). Specifically, the exhaust gas filtercondition display area may display a bar graph that represents the ratioof the current time of use of the exhaust gas filter to its maximumallowable time of use.

Furthermore, the order of display of the display screens 41V1 through41V4 on the image display part 41 of the image display unit 40 is notlimited to the above-described example, and the display screens 41V1through 41V4 may be displayed in order different from theabove-described example every time the camera switch 42 b is depressed.Furthermore, the display screen may have a configuration different fromthe above-described display screens 41V1 through 41V4, and multipledisplay screens having configurations different from those illustratedby way of example may be displayed in order. The configurations and theorder of display of display screens may be determined by the operator.Preferably, however, a captured image captured with the rear monitoringcamera 80E is displayed on the display screen during the work of theshovel 100. Displaying a captured image captured with the rearmonitoring camera 80B on the display screen during the work makes itunnecessary to install a rearview mirror or the like that the operatoruses to see rearward.

A captured image displayed on the image display part 41 is displayedindependently of the traveling direction of the lower-part travelingbody 1 of the shovel 100. That is, a selected captured image or acomposite bird's-eye view image from the rear monitoring camera 80B, theleft-side monitoring camera 80L, and the right-side monitoring camera80R is displayed in the camera image display area 41 m regardless of thetraveling direction of the lower-part traveling body 1.

Here, preferably, an image captured with the image capturing devices 80is preferentially displayed in the camera image display area 41 m whenthe gate lock lever 27 a is pulled up by the operator to enable the workelements of the shovel 100 in the shovel 100. For example, the imagedisplay unit 40 switches the display of the camera image display area 41m from the menu screen to an image captured with the image capturingdevices 80 in response to the gate lock lever 27 a being pulled up toturn on the limit switch 27 c to enable the work elements.

Because a captured image is preferentially displayed when the gate locklever 27 a is pulled up to enable the work elements, the operator cansmoothly start work while confirming the safety of the surroundingswithout operating the camera switch 42 b or the like.

Furthermore, the image displayed in the camera image display area 41 mwhen the gate lock lever 27 a is pulled up is preferably equal to theimage displayed when the gate lock lever 27 a was pulled down to end orinterrupt work the last time. For example, in response to havingdisplayed an image captured with the rear monitoring camera BOB at theend or interruption of work the last time, the image display unit 40again displays an image captured with the rear monitoring camera 80B atthe start of work. Likewise, in response to having displayed an imagecaptured with the left-side monitoring camera 80L at the end orinterruption of work the last time, the image display unit 40 displaysan image captured with the left-side monitoring camera 80L also at thestart of work. Furthermore, in response to having displayed an imagecaptured with the right-side monitoring camera 80R at the end orinterruption of work the last time, the image display unit 40 displaysan image captured with the right-side monitoring camera 80R also at thestart of work.

Furthermore, in response to having simultaneously displayed imagescaptured with two or more of the rear monitoring camera BOB, theleft-side monitoring camera 80L, and the right-side monitoring camera80R at the end or interruption of work, the image display unit 40likewise displays multiple captured images at the start of work.Furthermore, in response to having displayed a composite bird's-eye viewimage of images captured with the rear monitoring camera BOB, theleft-side monitoring camera 80L, and the right-side monitoring camera80R at the end or interruption of work, the image display unit 40displays a like bird's-eye view image at the start of work.

An image displayed at the end or interruption of work the last time isautomatically displayed on the image display unit 40 at the start ofwork to allow the operator to more smoothly start work while confirmingthe safety of the surroundings without operating the camera switch 42 bor the like.

As described above, according to the shovel 100 of this embodiment,depressing the camera switch 42 b alone makes it possible to change theposition of operating information on the image display part 41 and acaptured image displayed on the image display part 41 of the imagedisplay unit 40. Accordingly, the operator can cause a desired image tobe displayed on the image display unit 40 with a simple operation. Whilea shovel is described by way of example according to the embodiment, thepresent invention is not limited to shovels, and may be applied to otherconstruction machines.

While a construction machine according to the embodiment is describedabove, the present invention is not limited to the above-describedembodiment, and variations and modifications may be made within thescope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A construction machine, comprising: a lower-parttraveling body that performs a traveling operation; an upper-partturning body turnably mounted on the lower-part traveling body; anoperator's cab mounted on the upper-part turning body; a plurality ofimage capturing devices mounted on the upper-part turning body; and adisplay unit mounted in the operator's cab to simultaneously display animage and operating information regarding an operating condition, saidimage including at least one of a plurality of images captured with theplurality of image capturing devices, wherein the display unit isconfigured to change switch a plurality of screens according to apredetermined order, the plurality of screens being different from eachother in at least one of said displayed image and a display position ofthe displayed operating information, in response to an operation of asingle changeover switch during simultaneous display of the image andthe operating information.
 2. The construction machine as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the plurality of image capturing devices include acounterweight monitoring camera configured to capture an image in adirection of a counterweight, and the display unit is configured todisplay said image that includes the image captured with thecounterweight monitoring camera.
 3. The construction machine as claimedin claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to display said imageinto which the plurality of images captured with the plurality of imagecapturing devices are combined.
 4. The construction machine as claimedin claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to display an imagecapturing device icon that represents an orientation of one of theplurality of image capturing devices that has captured the at least oneof the plurality of captured images included in said displayed image. 5.The construction machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unitis configured to display the operating information in a left part, aright part, or an upper part of a display region.
 6. The constructionmachine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the display unit is configured todisplay the operating information over said image when displaying theoperating information in the upper part of the display region.
 7. Theconstruction machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: adetector configured to detect whether a work element of the constructionmachine is enabled or disabled, wherein the display unit is configuredto preferentially display said image when the work element is enabled.8. The construction machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the displayunit is configured to display said image that includes an image capturedwith a same image capturing device as a captured image included in animage last displayed in a last enabled state of the work element, whenthe disabled work element becomes enabled.
 9. The construction machineas claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured todisplay said image independently of a traveling direction of thelower-part traveling body.
 10. A construction machine comprising: alower-part traveling body that performs a traveling operation; anupper-part turning body turnably mounted on the lower-part travelingbody; an operator's cab mounted on the upper-part turning body; aplurality of image capturing devices mounted on the upper-part turningbody; and a display unit mounted in the operator's cab to display ascreen, wherein the display unit is configured to switch the screen froma first screen and a second screen one to another among a plurality ofscreens according to a predetermined order in response to an operationof a single changeover switch, the first screen and the second screenplurality of screens each simultaneously displaying an image andoperating information regarding an operating condition, said imageincluding at least one image among images captured with the plurality ofimage capturing devices and a composite image of the captured images,the first screen and the second screen plurality of screens beingdifferent from each other in at least one of said displayed image and adisplay position of the displayed operating information.